SEASONS - MEMORIAL DAY AND PENTECOST

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

It is that time between Passover and Pentecost, the time of The Counting of the Omer.  I've been faithfully counting the Omer, waiting on The Day of Pentecost to come,reading the scriptures, pondering the verses, numbering the days of my life and examining them to see how much I need to change in order to grow closer to God. 

 I believe it is the blood of Jesus that covers me and saves me from the wrath of God.  This brings me salvation, but it is my desire to please God and grow closer to Him that brings sanctification.  Salvation and sanctification must not be confused.  Salvation is our gift from God.  Sanctification is our gift back to God.  It is what we do with the life He has given to us.  It is a growing process and one step leads to the next.   This is what happens every year in the journey of my soul during the 50 days between Passover and Pentecost when I count the days of the Omer and ponder the days of my life before God.  The Jewish people have followed this practice for many, many years, and I agree with them that it is scriptural and right.  This is not about a Christian trying to be Jewish, it is about a heart desiring to move closer to God.  One scripture that confirms my thoughts for carrying out this practice each year is found in Leviticus.

Leviticus 23:15-16

¹⁵ And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

¹⁶ Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.

 So I go through this counting and thinking process every year, and I'm never disappointed in how God moves my heart into submission to His will during the 50 days leading up to Pentecost.   I ponder, pray and wait, anticipating, expecting God to do His work in my life.  It is a time of deep listening and turning.  In no time at all the 50 days are up and I find myself approaching sunset and realizing the time is up and the actual time of celebrating Pentecost begins.  It always happens 50 days after Passover.    The practice is to keep the Sabbath first (Saturday), and then Pentecost comes right on it's heals.

Ironically, this all happens during the same time of the year that I find myself decorating my home for Memorial Day, so my house is usually always full of red white and blue candles, flowers and decorations.  One day (on a year that both holidays collided exactly) I caught myself wondering what these two days (Memorial Day and Pentecost) could actually have in common?  As I prepared for both, I kept thinking of one thing after another.   

Since Shavout (Pentecost) is normally called "The Harvest Festival" it is customary to adorn your home with fruit, greenery and flowers.  Part of the festival is to remember that the 10 Commandments were given at Mt. Sinai, which was a desert area, but legend has it that when the law was given the mountain bloomed and sproutted flowers.  There is great symbolism in this legendary story and I love it.   I look around my house and see the red and white roses and ferns that I've chosen for Memorial Day and realize I don't have to change a thing for Pentecost, it all flows beautifully together.  

It is also customary to eat dairy foods on this Pentecost festival. The spiritual nourishment we receive from God's word and His laws are compared to the nutritional factors found in milk.  The Hebrew word for milk is "chalav."  The numerical value of this word using Hebrew Gematria is 8 + 30 + 2, adding up to 40.  We know that Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai receiving the Torah.   In his 40 days with God on the mountain Moses gained great wisdom.  In the first 40 days of counting the omer up until the 50th day of Pentecost, we too, if approached correctly, gain wisdom and knowledge from God.

Passover was celebrated on two days, then we had the seven days of unleavend bread, that made nine days in counting.  The day we reach Pentecost is the 50th day - that is one day, making 10 holy days in the count.  These days are the first 10 days and then there are the 40 days inbetween, with a total of 50 days.  The 40 days inbetween the two festivals of the 50 days we have been counting are symbolic of the time of Moses on the Mountain receiving the Torah.  Receiving the word of God into our lives is like taking nourishment from milk and honey; it is very good for us and makes us healthy.  So, we eat fruit and dairy at Pentecost.  I glanced at my Memorial Day menu, and  I see mini white chocolate cheesecakes topped with blueberries, and a Memorial Day Flag Fruit Kabob Platter.    Even the menu is working out for both days!  Pretty amazing to think about!

It is also traditional to eat meat on this festival day.  You eat the dairy first, then take a break, and eat the meat next.  This is because of the natural law of God that says you must learn to drink milk before you learn to eat meat.  You must learn the basic stories of Torah and each year as you study them more and more (it is traditional to stay up all night reading Torah on Pentecost eve) they become layered lessons in life.  The stories become meatier and meatier.  You are gradually moving from milk to meat.  I had chosen an Open Faced Rib Sandwich for my Memorial Day menu.  My ribs will be beef ribs (not pork).  Even the main course will fit this day!  Again, amazing!  I had no idea when I was making out the menu that things were going to come together so easy.  Was God putting the choices into my head?  I like to think so....even the fruit kabobs in the shape of a flag with blueberries, strawberries and bananas will work out fine.  This combination of the two occassions that often fall close together on the calendar this will work out just great, no problem.

Lots of things are being memorialized on both of these days.  The giving of the Torah on the Mountain, the memory of the fallen soldiers, the sacrifice of Christ that brought the freedom that comes from the gift of The Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice of our Americian soldiers that brought us freedom in our land.

It also occurred to me that both Pentecost and Memorial Day were about marking endings and beginnings. 

Pentecost marks the harvest, the end of the wheat growing season.  Things that have been growing all year are gathered up and stored in the barn.  The wheat harvest is ended and we wait until the time comes for enjoying the fruit of the crops.  An offering is offered up to God, to give thanks for His provision.     

Memorial Day marks the end of the lives of many good godly men, who selflessly put their all on the line for the benefit of others so that all could enjoy the abundance that freedom brings.  These soldiers were so much like that wheat gathered into the barn, their service representing the harvest that causes our lives to be full and abundant.  Because the wheat has been gathered in, the barns are full.  They gave themselves as an offering.  We send up prayers of thanks to God for all their lives have provided for us.            

Those were endings;  but with each ending comes a new beginning. The Book of Life turns a page and we get a chance for new heroes to walk the earth and give the service that true heroes always give.  What a perfect example we have received from our Lord, Jesus Christ, the First-fruit of the Harvest, who came to live on this earth, to be buried like a grain of wheat in the ground and to arise again.  He walked on this earth for 40 days after His Resurrection, then, He ascended into Heaven to give us a new beginning when He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us.   With the giving of The Holy Spirit on The Day of Pentecost, the whole earth received the offer of a new beginning. 

Perhaps those soldiers who died for us all were only imitating The One they knew so well.  There are soldiers that enlist in the battles of this country, and there are soldiers that enlist in the battle for The Kingdom of Heaven.  There are many who join both battles.   They all deserve our heartfelt memorials.  They all were seekers, looking for a better way of life for everyone.   Maybe our country fails miserably sometimes in maintaining the honor due to them.  Maybe our country fails in keeping the freedom that they fought so hard to obtain.  But take heart good friends, there is one Commander In Chief that will never fail.  He will provide all of us with a new beginning in a land that we have yet to see, but a land that is held in our hearts as we fight our own battles.  We are all but soldiers and pilgrims fighting through the battles of this life.